DJK pleads guilty to marijuana possession, gets deferred judgment

DJK pleads guilty to marijuana possession, gets deferred judgment

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Iowa wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos talks with his attorney John Beasley prior to his initial appearance in Johnson County District Court Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010 in Iowa City, Iowa on a variety of drug charges after investigators found cocaine, marijuana and other prescription drugs in his Iowa City home. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

UPDATED: Former University of Iowa receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos has pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana in exchange for other drug charges being dismissed.

Johnson-Koulianos, 23, was granted a deferred judgment, which means if he completes one year of unsupervised probation without further violations the offense would be cleared from his record.

Johnson-Koulianos must also undergo a substance abuse evalutation within 30 days, provide a clean urine analysis within 10 days, notify the Johnson County Clerk of Court of any changes of address and pay a $315 civil penalty, according to the order issued Monday.

The written guilty plea, which Johnson-Koulianos signed “DJK” on Jan. 18, states that the serious misdemeanor is punishable by up to six moths in prison and/or a fine not to exceed $1,000. In exchange for the guilty plea, the Johnson County Attorney’s Office recommended a deferred judgment.

Sixth Judicial District Associate Court Judge Stephen Gerard II said in the ruling that he granted the deferred judgment based on Johnson-Koulianos’ age, lack of prior record, absence of any weapons used in commission of the crime, and “greater opportunities for rehabilitation outside of a place of incarceration.”

Johnson-Koulianos’s first probation review will be Aug. 1, 2011.

Johnson-Koulianos was arrested Dec. 7 and charged with five counts of drug possession. The state alleged he was in possession of cocaine and marijuana, as well as drugs Ambien, Diazepam and Dilaudid without prescriptions.

Police also charged Johnson-Koulianos’s roommate, Brady C. Johnson, 21, with drug charges after a search of their house, 1128 E. Washington St.

Iowa Football Coach Kirk Ferentz suspended Johnson-Koulianos, Iowa’s all-time leader in receiving yards and receptions, from all activities in December. Johnson-Koulianos is a senior.

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